FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What product should I select for my microwave transmission line application?

The answer to this question depends on many variables specific to you. Micro-Coax offers many options and one of the broadest ranges of solutions in the industry. In some cases where a low frequency range might initially direct you towards a low performing "RG" cable, you may find that another requirement such as RF shielding, operating frequency, or phase matching might make one of Micro-Coax's RF coaxial cables more of an ideal choice. We stock Micro-Coax's:

-Semi-rigid coax

-Flexible microwave cable

-Tin-soaked formable cable

-Aluminum jacket formable cable

2.How do I solder semi-rigid cable to PCB’s?

Introduction: Semi-Rigid cables can be soldered directly to PCB’s and are an excellent solution to transmitting amplifed signals across PCB’s. This microwave coax offers outstanding shielding and insertion loss characteristics, thus improving system performance and reducing power consumption.

Considerations:

Solderability: Bare copper outer conductors will oxidize over time, potentially reducing solderability. Many end users specify a tin-plated coating over the semi-rigid cables copper jacket in order to improve soldering onto their circuit boards. Though not required and slightly more expensive, tin-plating over the semi-rigid coax may improve reliability and reduce inspection requirements for solder joints.

Dielectric Expansion: Standard PTFE dielectrics will extrude under elevated temperatures such as typical circuit board reflow profiles. Any extrusion may cause damage to nearby components, failure of center conductor solder joint, or in rare cases catastrophic failure of the copper outer conductor itself. Dielectric extrusion can be eliminated through the use of “LL” low density microporous dielectrics made from expanded PTFE. The “LL” microporous material is mechanically stable under temperature extremes making it an ideal choice for reflow applications.